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Author: Stephen Weller
509 words, 3 minutes read time

Hearing Before Herod

Scripture: Luke 23:8-12

With the previous lesson we finished the section which covered the hearing before Pilate in which Jesus was found innocent. Since this did not satisfy the Jews and since Jesus was a Galilean and under the jurisdiction of Herod and since he was in Jerusalem at the time, Pilate sends Jesus to him. With this lesson we will cover a very short section in which Jesus is questioned at length by Herod and he finds no guilt and sends him back to Pilate.

^{Lk 23:8} When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. ⁹ So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. ¹² And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

It wasn’t too long ago that “some Pharisees came [to Jesus] and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” (Luke 13:31 ESV). Since then Herod has heard about the signs and wonders that Jesus was doing, and he hoped that Jesus might perform for him now. So, instead of taking his life, Herod questioned him at length to see if he could determine anything to charge him with, but Jesus refused to answer. His silence fulfills Isaiah 53:7 ESV: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

The chief priests and the scribes continued to make accusations, but Jesus remained silent and did not provide them with any incriminating evidence thus leaving the responsibility for his death squarely on those accusing him. As a result of Jesus not cooperating, frustration grew and at some point it reached the breaking point and Herod with his soldiers treated Jesus with contempt and mocking him and then arraying him in splendid clothing, to mock his claim to kingship, Jesus is sent back to Pilate, who was probably not very pleased to have him back.

It is interesting to note that because of this situation with Jesus and their involvement together in it that Herod and Pilate become friends, for before this they had been enemies.

Conclusion

Up to this point Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod have questioned Jesus and have failed to come up with any incriminating evidence worthy of death by crucifixion. Annas and Caiaphas along with the council made up charges, but nothing that concerned Roman officials could be found by Pilate and Herod.